Washing machine



2 Sheets-Sheet l C. M. PRYOR WASHING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1934 April 21, 1936.

P. RM M mp R N R O WASHING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1934 2 Sheets sheet 2 ATTORNEY@ Patented Apr. 2l, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of domestic Washing machines.

'Ihe present invention relates in a general way to the type of washing machine which embodies an oscillating gyrator vertically disposed within the tub.

In the former washing machines of this type, there has been experienced considerable dimculty in the washing of garments of finer texture and those having ties, belts, etc., as they would become tangled or knotted during the washing operation.

'Ihe particular tumbling action of the garments, as caused by the previous washing machines of this same general type, has also caused a decided wear upon the garments especially those of a more delicate nature.

The general object of the present invention therefore is to devise a washing machine of the gyrator type in which there will be eliminated the objectionable features above briefly referred to. l

Thus, my purpose is to devise a washing ma chine in which any and all garments may be thoroughly and efficiently cleansed without any appreciable wear upon the same during the washing operation and without the heretofore objectionable tangling or knotting of any of the garments or any parts thereof.

Another` object of the present invention consists in devising such a washing machine in which there is created a certain continuouscirculation of theI garments through the cleaning liquid while at the same time the cleaning liquid is agitated and the garments are gently but effectively caused to rub against each other but Without being subjected to the harsh rubbing action against the metal parts of the machine.

Another object consists in producing such a washing machine in which the washing operation can be performed in a compartively short time and with a compartively reduced amount of power for a given size of machine.

Another object consists in devising such a washing machine in which there is embodied a smoothly operating mechanism which is practically free of vibration and which, as a result, produces a most efficient washing operation with minimum wear upon the mechanism.

More especially, the present invention contemplates a washing machine embodying a specific form of gyrator which is capable of agitating the washing liquid and the garments in the manner above briefly referred to and hereinafter more fully explained.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved washing machine with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l, this view being virtually an inverted plan view of the operating mechanism installed upon the under side of the washing machine;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my improved form of gyrator; V

Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof:

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relative configurations of the several blades of the gyrator.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is merely for purposes of illustration and that other modifications and variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention as herein set forth and claimed.

'I'he tub I has the raised bottom 2 upon the under side of which there is ailixed the housing enclosing the operating mechanism. It will of course be understood that the garments and the cleansing fluid are placed within the tub I and that the gyrator or agitator extends up into the same, this gyrator being operated by the mechanism arranged upon the lower side of the machine.

The operating mechanism comprises the electric motor 3 which drives the shaft 4 which in turn operates the gear 5 through the worm 6. The shaft of the gear 5 has provided thereupon the crank arm I which has pivotal connection at the point 8 with the connecting rod 9, the other end of which has pivotal connection at the point l0 with the far side of the segmental gear I I. 'I'he segmental gear II is pivotally mounted at the point I2 within the housing and has meshing engagement with the pinion I3 mounted upon the lower end of the vertically disposed shaft I 4 which is employed for oscillating the gyrator.

'I'he shaft I4 extends up through the raised bottom 2 so as to project into the upper part of the tub I and this shaft is surrounded by the hollow tube I5 which has suitably sealed connection through the bottom of the tub and is adapted to protect the shaft Il throughut 'the 61111119 extent thereof against the contact of the iluld therewith. This same sealed connection also prevents any 0f the. Huid from ndlllg its Way through the bottom of the tub to the operating mechanism.

The shaft I4 and the tube I5 project to a point above the normal water line in the tub so that the gyrator may be attached to the drive shaft I4 at a point above the level of the washing liquid.

Any suitable form of operating connection may be provided between the vgyrator and the upper end of the shaft I4. In the present illustration, the upper end of the shaft I4 is given a tapered hexagonal form which fits in the correspondingly formed upper end of the gyrator.

The gyrator comprises the centrally disposed stem I6 and the base portion II provided at the lower end thereof and a plurality of vertically disposed blades A, B, and C which are of a substantially upwardly tapering form but which are each of a peculiar configuration, as will be more fully explained.

In the present case, I have indicated the gyrator as comprising three such blades although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular number of blades. It is to be understood also that while I have indicated one specific form of gyrator in which the blades are shown as having specific configurations and arrangement with respect to the stem of the gyrator, the particular structure of gyrator as herein disclosed may be varied somewhat from the present illustration without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It will be observed that the three blades of the gyrator as herein illustratedare arranged about the stem I6 in an unsymmetrical manner with respect to the axis of the stem as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. That is to say, these three blades do not all extend from the stern I6 along true radii from the axis thereof and neither are these blades arranged at equal distances or equal degrees apart about the axis of the gyrator.

To be more specific, reference may be had 'to Figs. 4 and 5 in which the dotted radii are 120 apart. It will be observed that while the blade A is indicated as corresponding to'a true radius of the gyrator, the blades B and C do not extend in planes corresponding to true radii with respect to the axis of the stem I6 but on the other hand the blade B throughout substantially its entire radial extent does not correspond with the adjacent radius indicated and is spaced from the blade A more than 120 degrees. The blade C throughout at least a portion of its radial extent is likewise spaced more than 120 degrees from the blade A. Furthermore, blade C bears angular relation to the adjacent radial plane, as indicated. It will be observed that the plane of blade B is to one side of its corresponding adjacent radial plane, while the plane of blade C, or at least a portion thereof, is to the other side of its adjacent radial plane. This is clearly indicated in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be observed that the intermediate portions of the three blades are of comparatively restricted width and that the widths of these portions of the three blades differ somewhat from each other. It will be observed also that the lower portions of the blades are of substantially greater width than the intermediate portions and that the lower portions of the three blades differ from each other with respect. to their height. This is clearly indicated in Fig. 6. In the diagrammatic illustration in Fig. 6, the upper portions of the three blades are shown as bearing slightly different angular relation to the stem of the gyrator and they terminate at slightly different points on the stem. Although this feature is not absolutely necessary for performance of the operation intended yet it does contribute to the agitation'desired.

It will be observed also that the joining portions between the lower end of the stern I6 and the base portion I1 are of concave form, as indicated by reference numeral I1, this feature being essential for the purpose of producing the proper swirling action of the water which is not obtained so efficiently with sharp corners at these points.

Meshing with the gear 5 is the companion gear I8 which is affixed to the lower end of the vertlcally disposed shaft I9 for operating the conventional form of wringer which, however, forms no part of the present invention.

In actual use of the present washing machine, the tub I will be filled with .the Washing liquid to the level of the rib I.

It is to be understood that suitable electric cord connection may be provided for the electric motor 3 so that it can be plugged in at any suitable point and the entire washing machine is mounted upon suitable rollers for conveniently moving the same from one point to another.

With the garments placed within the washing iiuid in the tub I and the motor 3 set in operation, the shaft I4 will be' given an oscillating movement through the operating connections above described. Such back and forth movement of the shaft 4 will be at uniform rate of speed in both directions.

With my specific form of gyrator as above described, there is obtained a. particularly efficient agitation or circulation of the washing fluid and a resulting circulatory motion of the garments within the tub. That is, the garments are caused to move in a substantially circu1ar-course about the tub and substantially within the space between the outer edge of the gyrator and the wall of the tub. At the same time the garments are caused to change their level progressively and repeatedly throughout such circular path of movement, with the result that the garments will move up and down above and below and over each other so as to gently rub all portions thereof against each other with a highly efficient result in the loosening and removal of the soil therefrom. Such agitation and movement of the washing fluid and the garments therewithin is caused by the peculiar configuration of the blades and the other portions of the gyrator.

Without attempting to analyze and explain the reason for such movement of the garments in their circuitous path about the tub as a result of the peculiar configuration of the gyrator, the theory is suggested that the particular form and construction of the oscillating gyrator, while moving in clockwise direction, has the effect of advancing the washing fluid and the garments in the same direction and it then returns over its backward or counterclockwise oscillating path wit-hout materially disturbing the advancing movement of the garments as already set up by the advance movement of the gyrator. In other words, the theory is suggested that with this particular form of gyrator when mounted and operated in the machine in the manner herein set forth, there is obtained in effect what might be considered a one-Way action of the gyrator with respect to the garments so as to cause a positive circuitous travel of the garments in one direction about the tub.

The angular or offset relation of the blade B with respect to its adjacent radial plane is greater than that of the blade C and the eil'ect of the blade B is to exert a greater force upon the liquid while it is advancing in clockwise direction, Whereas the effect of the blade C is in the opposite direction. Thus, the combined eifect of the blades B and C is to produce the desired agitation of the liquid in both directions while at the same time the predominating eifect of the greater offset of blade B will cause a movement of the garments continuously in the clockwise direction,

The difference in the height and width of the lower and intermediate portions respectively of the blades causes agitation of the liquid in the form of compound wave motion. This is ciective in causing the garments to change their relative positions with respect to each other, thereby increasing the gentle rubbing action between them.

Thus, the loosening and removal of the soil and all foreign matter from the garments is effected without subjecting them to the harsh frictional engagement of the same with the metal parts and there is precluded the objectionable wear and tear of the garments.

Also, by virtue of the particular path of movement described by the garments as they are caused to travel over their circuitous path already explained, all portions of the garments are permitted to remain free without tangling or knotting. This is especially important in connection with the materials of -a finer texture and thos'e which have bands or tapes forming part thereof. Furthermore, as a result of the untangled and unknotted condition of all portions of the garments throughout the entire washing operation, the garments are more thoroughly and emciently cleansed since all portions thereof are fully and completely subjected to the cleansin operation. y

Another advantageous result which is produced by this particular form of washing-machine and its efiicient manner of operation, consists in the fact that for a given size of washing machine,

. the washing operation will be performed in a substantiallly reduced length of time and with a comparatively reduced consumption of power.

Also, by virtue of the comparatively smooth mannner of operation of the entire mechanism, the machine may be constructed in a comparatively light form and still maintain stationary position upon the floor throughout the entire washing operation.- This is made possible by the practical absence of vibration. Such smoothness of operation means also a minimum wear upon the mechanism and longer life for the machine.

The gyrator in Figs. 3 to 5 of the drawings is shown as half size of one which has actually been constructed and successfully demonstrated in a tub of approximately sixteen (16) inches in diameter.

What I claim is:

1. In a washing machine, a gyrator adapted for oscillating movement about its vertical axis within a tub, said gyrator having a plurality of vertically extending blades each having an intermediate substantially vertical portion of comparatively restricted width and a lower portion of substantially greater width, the dimensions oi.' the blades diiering from each other with respect to the height of the lower portions and the width of the intermediate portions, and the blades of said gyrator being arranged in an unsymmetrical manner about the vertical axis thereof with respect to the truly radial planes of the gyrator, at least one of said blades being inclined to the truly radial plane.

2. In a washing machine, a gyrator adapted for oscillating movement about its vertical axis within a tub, said gyrator having a plurality of vertically extending blades each having an intermediate substantially vertical portion of comparatively restricted width and a lower portion of substantially greater width, the dimensions of the blades diering from each other with respect to the height of the lower portions and the width of the intermediate portions, and the blades of said gyrator being arranged in an unsymmetrical manner about the vertical axis thereof with respect to the space between the blades and with respect to the truly radial planes of the gyrator, at least one of said blades being inclined to the truly radial plane.

3. In a washing machine, a gyrator adapted for oscillating movement about its vertical axiswithin a tub, said gyrator having a base portion and a stem portion and a plurality of vertically extending blades each having an intermediate substantially vertical portion of comparatively restricted width and a lower portion of substantially greater width, the dimensions of the blades differing from each other with respect to the height of the lower portions and the width oi' the intermediate portions, the blades of the gyrator being arranged in an unsymmetrical manner about the vertical axis thereof with respect to the space between the blades and with respect to the truly radial planes of the gyrator, at least one of said blades being inclined with respect to the truly radial plane, and the joining portions between the base and stem portions being of a concave form.

4. In a washing machine, a gyrator adapted for oscillating movement about its vertical axis within a tub, said gyrator having a base portion and a stem portion and a plurality of vertically extending blades each having an intermediate substantially vertical' portion of comparatively restricted width and a lower portion of substantially greater width, the dimensions of the blades differing from each other with respect to the height of the lower portions and the width of the intermediate portions, one o1' said blades being offset with 'respect to its truly radial plane and substantially parallel thereto, and another of said blades being inclined to its truly radial plane in a direction towards said other oiset blade. i

CLIFFORD M. PRYOR. 

